The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-01-20


and pecuniary damage the frightful
gasoline explosion there about two
years AGO. Early this morning the
DEMOCRAT bulletined the intelligence
that Alliance was ablaZe and was
threatened with total destruction by q Q.
In the main this dispatch was correct,
but at three o'clock tris afternoon the
fire is totally under control. A DEMO
Graf reporter went to Alliance this
morning and details the disaster in the
following dispatch:
ACCOUNT OF THE FIRE.
ALLIANCE, o., January l9.-Wben |
arrived here this morning found busi-
ness of all kinds suspended and the
entire population interested in the work
of stopping the coDfagration, which
was raging fiercely.
The fire broke out at one o'clock this
morning In the back room of Wonders
photograph gallery, over Evans shoe
store. Mrs, sohaeffsr, an old lady, living
In the block, said she detected the
smell Of smoke as early as
eight o'clock last night. When the
fire was first discovered 1t had already
gained great headway, and the small
force of Alliance fremen with one hose
cart aud eight BsbcOcks, was unable to
successfully combat with the flames, al
though they struggled hard to do so. In
the first place the
FIRE PLUGS WERE FROZEN UP,
and had to be thawed out before water
could be obtained, meanwhile the flames,
fed by stiff breeze, leaped to the ad-
joining buildings on the west, and soon
1t looked as though that entire portion
Of the city would be destroyed. When
water was finally obtained, the heavy
pressure 1t gets from the reservoir broke
number of sections of the poor hose,
and the 1remen we're again pOwerless.
Canton was then telegraphed for aid,
AID President Frazer and the Council
Committee on Fire Department, Of Can
ton, detailed hose companies and Z
with twelve hundred feet of hose and
thirty 6remen to 60 to the rescue. The
Ft. Wayne company made up q train
and at an early hour this morning the
outfit was taken to Alliance, where they
set vigorously at work and after about
eight hours hard labor checked the pro-
gress of the fire, combining it to the
burning buildings. At noon six
additional Canton iremen arrived.
The eight Alliance BahCOcks were mere
play things in the immense blazs. One
section only of the Canton hose bursted,
but the damage was soon repaired. At
noon to-day the fire was sufficiently sub
dued to permit the release of most of the
Canton hremen, few remaining to
play upon the charred and smOldering
ruins.
LATER DISPATCH.
ALLIANCE, Jan 1913 P. .M-The origin
OF the fire Is not certainly known. Some
say that 1t originated In the cellar of
the Evans shoe store whilst others think
1t originated In the Lafe Wonders pho
tOgraph gallery In the third story Of
Che same building.
Mother Shaffer, an aged lady, residing
In the adjacent building to the shoe
store, smelt fire about o'clock In the
evening. but 1t could not be located.
The ire department promptly re-
Sp0nded, but the intense cold and Ice
and the frequent bursting of the hose
greatly impeded their efforts and 1t was
soon seen that number Of buildings
were doomed.
Conductor Ed. Woodward, who also
resides In the same building, was called
at one O'Clock to take his run, when he
discovered the fire In the rear of the
Evans building, and raised the alarm.
The fire worked Its way both east and
west taking in Its course P. j. Gaume's
dry goods store and P. q. Barr g. Co.'S.
drug store, and the Alliance Bank Co.'s.
building. The two latter, although not
totally destroyed by the fire, were badly
damaged by water.
The fire In Its track eastward totally
consumed the Evans shoe store and the
Shaffer building occupied by s.
kOch's clothing store. Silver's shoe
store. N. ODDenheimer's clothing store
and Relter's millinery store were either
completely Quilted or badly damaged by
fire and water.
The effect Of the fire upon the husl-
ness Of the city will be disastrous, as
he direct loss will amount to fully
100000 without estimating the time
which will be lost to those burned out,
In adjusting the losses and rebuilding.
Following is summary Of the prinCi-
pal losses:
THE LOSSES
DR.. P. Il. Barr, druggi4', $1,000 on
building; insured for $4,000.
P. d. Keplinger, dry goods, $4,000 on
building; insured for $500.
Paul Gaume, dry goods stock, 10000;
insured for $4,000.
DR.. McCreary, loss on furniture $500;
uninsured.
Ed Ogden, Office furniture, 500; un- |
insured.
Frank Keplinger, interested In block. |
$4,000; insured for $5 500.
8. Koch, clothing, $1,000; insured for |
$1,000.
l$5. 200.
Alliance Bank Co., loss heavy but no
estimate given.
x. Woodward, family goods, 81, 200.
James Richards, family goods, $1,000.
y A. O. Sllvers, boots and shoes, $1,000,
ansured for $1,000.
At w u Hair, block, $1,000; insured
for $4,000
L. Ballard, dentist, $1,000.
Mrs. Marchand, building ,S7, 900; insur-
cd for S. 000
Oppenheimer 3 Co.'S. clothing, $1,000;
insured for 5000.
E Underwood, Office. $500: lnaurad for